The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial abbey of Montevergine, Italy, presented by Fr. Giovanni Tarcisio Nazzaro O.S.B., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Jaime Pedro Kohl P.S.D.P., master of novices at the novitiate of "Nossa Senhora de Caravaggio" at Farroupilha in the diocese of Caixas do Sul, Brazil, as bishop of Osorio (area 6,120, population 272,000, Catholics 230,000, priests 31, religious 60), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Salvador do Sul, Brazil in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1984. He succeeds Bishop Thadeu Gomes Canellas, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Elevated Fr. Gianfranco Girotti O.F.M. Conv., regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Rome in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1963.

- Elevated Msgr. Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Oleszczenice, Poland in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1958.

- Elevated Fr. Raffaele Farina S.D.B., prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, to the dignity of bishop. The bishop-elect was born in Ariano Irpino, Italy in 1933 and ordained a priest in 1958.RE:NER:/.../... VIS 20061115 (240)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 2006 (VIS) - Today, November 15, the liturgical feast of St. Albert the Great, Dominican bishop and doctor of the Church, a ceremony took place to mark the opening of the academic year at Rome's Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, the "Angelicum," of which St. Albert is co-patron.

Following a brief address from Fr. Joseph Agius O.P., rector of the university, Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, delivered a talk on the subject of: "The ecclesiology of communion and the Letter 'Communionis notio' on some aspects of the Church understood as communion."

The central themes of that document, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1992 are: the Universal Church and particular Churches, the communion of Churches, Eucharist and episcopate, ecclesial communion, and ecumenism..../ACADEMIC YEAR ANGELICUM/AMATO VIS 20061115 (150)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 2006 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience, the Pope recalled the fact that today is the liturgical feast of St. Albert the Great, "who made ceaseless efforts to establish peace among the peoples of his time," he said,

"May his example," the Holy Father continued, "stimulate you, dear young people, to work for justice and build reconciliation." For the sick, may it be "an encouragement to confide in the Lord Who never abandons us in moments of trial," and for newlyweds, "a stimulation to find in the Gospel the joy to welcome and serve life, the priceless gift of God."AG/GREETINGS/... VIS 20061115 (120)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 2006 (VIS) - St. Paul was, once again, the theme of Benedict XVI's catechesis during his weekly general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square.

"Having meditated last week upon St. Paul's writings concerning Jesus Christ's central position in our life of faith," said the Pope, "today we consider what he says about the Holy Spirit."

"St. Paul, in his Letters, ... does not limit himself to explaining just the dynamic and active role of the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, but also analyzes the presence of the Spirit in the lives of Christians, whose identity is thereby marked. In other words, Paul reflects upon the Spirit, explaining its influence not only upon the activities of Christians but also upon their being."

Quoting the words of St. Paul, the Holy Father said: "You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship." It is clear then, he went on, "that Christians, even before they act, possess a rich and fruitful inner life ... that instates them in a ... filial relationship with God. This is our greatest dignity, that of being not just the image but the children of God," which, in turn, "is an invitation to transform this objective gift into a subjective reality, that determines our way of thinking, acting and being."

"Paul also teaches us," the Holy Father continued, "that there is no true prayer without the presence of the Spirit within us." The Spirit is "like the soul of our soul, the most secret part of our being, whence a prayer incessantly rises towards God."

"Another aspect of the Spirit ... is its association with love. ... The Spirit introduces us into the very rhythm of divine life, which is a life of love. ... And since by definition love unites, this means, above all, that the Spirit is a creator of communion within the Christian community."

"Finally, the Spirit, according to St. Paul, is a generous down payment given us by God Himself as a foretaste and guarantee of our future inheritance. ...The action of the Spirit guides our lives towards the great values of love, joy, communion and hope."AG/PAUL/... VIS 20061115 (380)